H2 Spare Tire Carrier

['86erfixer]

Has anybody made a H2 spare tire carrier work with their stock bumpers?

I need a solution for my 35'' spare and don't want a whole new bumper. Hitchgate by Tiregate is not bad, but for almost $700 no way. Might see if DIY4X can fab something for me while retaining the stock bumper, tailgate, and glass. First thought was I could just use some serious beef for the body mounted (stockish) swing out carriers. Try and put some large back plating inside the cab and maybe attach to flooring too, but then read about stress on tailgate while driving. I know this has been covered to no extent, but I've been searching and reading past threads for a couple days and thought I'd just go straight to the source. Thanks yall.

Kurt, got any braincandy already in the works. . .?



here's a pic of the H2 carrier for reference

 

[dremu]

I suspect a 35" mounted towards the outside of a stock bumper would twist the bumper eventually.

For that kind of weight, you're gonna need a stout mount, which means a new bumper, or something stronger than sheetmetal to body mount it.

How about a receiver mounted carrier? Lots of options there, easy to build 'cuz it's just 2" square tube.

-- A

 

['86erfixer]

I like the receiver mount idea, but. . . 1) I dont want it to stick out too far, 2) still want to utilize my hitch for towing etc. Maybe Kurt could chime in (?). . . or someone could show their hitch mounted swing out.

 

[BUDDY]

http://www.somo.com/H2-Spare-Tire-Carrier-p/hus47111.htm
It's not a bad idea, but the H2 carrier is not cheap unless you can maybe boneyard it. Good luck with that BTW. Not to mention, you still have to figure out how to attach it to your frame solidly.

There must be another way.

Later,
Buddy

 

['86erfixer]

http://www.somo.com/H2-Spare-Tire-Carrier-p/hus47111.htm
It's not a bad idea, but the H2 carrier is not cheap unless you can maybe boneyard it. Good luck with that BTW. Not to mention, you still have to figure out how to attach it to your frame solidly.

There must be another way.

Later,
Buddy

Yes, I found one on craigslist, but wanted to see how someone has mounted one their stock bumpers. I appreciate your thoughts but they are not really helpful - just critical. Has anyone used one of these? If so, pics? Thanks.

 

[BUDDY]

Just critical, huh? How's this then?

You never said anything about having already found one for cheap(er), so how was my link not helpful? Besides, I did say that it isn't a bad idea didn't I?

Here's some help.

You will need to flatten & make vertical two portions of your stock bumper such that the carrier will not lean back away from your tailgate, (one at the hinge point & another at the latch point). Also, you will need to reinforce the bumper from the backside with a frame mounted out rigger to the mounting location that you pick so that the end of the bumper will not bend or break away from the weight of the tire carrier & spare tire/wheel. Remember, a stock hummer wheel & tire weighs around 100 lbs, so this reinforcement will have to be very stout, not to mention the additional loading that would occur when the tire is swung out away from the bumper. That added distance adds leverage which effectively adds weight. Your 35" spare would likely be 60-80 lbs for sure depending on what type of tire you have & what your wheel is made of.

Your other option is to fabricate a custom bumper that is more substantial in both the mounting of the bumper itself & the areas that the tire carrier would attach & latch at.

The reason nobody has posted up pictures is because nobody has done this yet.

Why not be the innovator, with your not bad idea & show us what you would do?

Is that more helpful? ;|

Later,
Buddy

 

[dremu]

I like the receiver mount idea, but. . . 1) I dont want it to stick out too far, 2) still want to utilize my hitch for towing etc. Maybe Kurt could chime in (?). . . or someone could show their hitch mounted swing out.

Could build the tire carrier onto a hitch extension, so you'd not lose the hitch function. Used to be you could get 'em like this, haven't seen any in some time.

And, uh, relax; the criticism is meant to be constructive. As mentioned, lots of folks use aftermarket bumpers or other solutions because tires that big are bloody heavy!

-- A

 

['86erfixer]

Just critical, huh? How's this then?

You never said anything about having already found one for cheap(er), so how was my link not helpful? Besides, I did say that it isn't a bad idea didn't I?

Here's some help.

You will need to flatten & make vertical two portions of your stock bumper such that the carrier will not lean back away from your tailgate, (one at the hinge point & another at the latch point). Also, you will need to reinforce the bumper from the backside with a frame mounted out rigger to the mounting location that you pick so that the end of the bumper will not bend or break away from the weight of the tire carrier & spare tire/wheel. Remember, a stock hummer wheel & tire weighs around 100 lbs, so this reinforcement will have to be very stout, not to mention the additional loading that would occur when the tire is swung out away from the bumper. That added distance adds leverage which effectively adds weight. Your 35" spare would likely be 60-80 lbs for sure depending on what type of tire you have & what your wheel is made of.

Your other option is to fabricate a custom bumper that is more substantial in both the mounting of the bumper itself & the areas that the tire carrier would attach & latch at.

The reason nobody has posted up pictures is because nobody has done this yet.

Why not be the innovator, with your not bad idea & show us what you would do?

Is that more helpful? ;|

Later,
Buddy

I didn't mean to be a d*ck, and thank you for the help.

Mostly, I was looking to see how someone did this before, if at all. I had my own ideas but was looking to see someone else's perspective.


I was thinking about running steel tubing under the bumper and attached to the frame. This would serve as the anchor for the h2 carrier. I would punch through the bumper only where needed so it looks like the carrier is mounted to the stock bumper. Started thinking about process and seems like a lot just to retain the stock bumper. I wanted to see if someone did this differently/simpler. Maybe something I wasn't seeing. . .

 

[bp71k5]

If you run a hitch mounted carrier and want to tow something too, just take the tire/mount off and strap it down onto whatever you're towing.

 

[xCaliK5x]

I would think you could get a H2 tire carrier from a breaker, then fab a bumper to mount it on. You could build it off the frame under the truck on one side, tying it to the frame kind of "recessed" inwards, and then take your stock bumper, notch it for the hinge and use it as a "skin" to cover it so it appears stock. That wouldn't be too hard to do with the right equipment I would think. .

 

[Blue85]

The key to the H2 carrier is that the frame rails are spaced very wide in that vehicle. The mounting points are very close to the frame. You either have to build stout adapters to fit is to your frame rail spacing or modify the carrier. You could offset the tire more to one side so that it still gets out of the tailgates way, but then you are getting close to building a new carrier. It seems like I made a sketch of this once...